By Laurie Bergner
Last week I attended the Institute for Collaborative Solutions’ award dinner, where they gave awards called “Extraordinary Ordinary Men of the Year.” Twenty men were nominated for this very cool award. Every one of them is involved with a variety of interesting things, running the gamut from mission trips to build orphanages in Central America, to working with the Boy Scouts, Promise Councils in local schools, Multicultural Leadership Program, bike groups, organizations that help the developmentally disabled…the list goes on and on. I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with one of them, and our conversation got me thinking about how people get involved.
Craig Luchtefeld described his initiation this way: 10 years ago, he was on what he described as “cruise control.” He had a good job, a wife, things were going along just fine. But then he had a son who was diagnosed as having autism, and Craig’s world changed. Suddenly, Craig had something he was passionate about. He joined Autism McLean board, seeking to learn from and help other families affected by autism. But then something interesting happened: Craig’s volunteerism didn’t stop with autism. Instead, it expanded. Craig used his technology skills to offer free help to nonprofit organizations that needed help setting up computer programs to keep track of donors and activities. Now Craig is a huge supporter of volunteerism. As he says, each of us has something to offer to the community.
How does an individual become involved in causes? It could happen in so many different ways. Sometimes it starts with something personal, like Craig’s son’s autism diagnosis; sometimes it’s a community event that triggers a strong feeling that I want to do something about this, I want to change this. But a strange thing happens: once you start with something, and it could be anything, you discover how good it feels to do good, to improve your world, to work with others on a really cool goal. And you begin to see your world, and your place in the world, differently. Suddenly, your world becomes something that includes you. And your place in this world is now one of having the ability to make a difference, of being able to contribute, of being a participant instead of just an observer.
Craig says that we all have something to contribute, and I agree. I think people think of soup kitchens when they think of volunteering, but in reality, there are more ways to contribute than anyone could list. Putting food on plates at the Mission, or sorting goods and furniture at Recycling for Families is something any of us could do. But there are also places for us to do things that use special skills some of us have, for organization, technology, music, teaching, organization, writing. Finding activities that grab us, that we find interesting, that help a cause we really care about – that’s what works for volunteerism. Honestly, it doesn’t matter what we do; it’s the reaching out to make your mark on the world beyond your own little life that changes your life. And as the award title says, extraordinary things are done, after all, by ordinary people. Every one of us can do something.
Laurie Bergner is a clinical psychologist in private practice, working with individual adults, families and couples. She also works with the nonpartisan League of Women Voters, helping organize candidates forums, educational programs, and many issues in the field of law and justice. She has received many recognitions in both fields, including YWCA’s Women of Distinction in the Professions, Leaguer of the Year, LWV Special Project Awards, and the LWV of Illinois’s prestigious Carrie Chapman Catt award. Laurie has a wonderful husband and two grown children – also wonderful. She loves biking in the countryside, reading, and traveling.
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